Garden golf



Jan v, 1930. A. M. GOODLOE 1,742,702

GARDEN GOLF Filed Sept. 24, 28

Patented Jan. 7, 1930 umreo orrrcE ALFRED M. GOODLOE, OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR' T EXCHANGE LUMBER COMPANY, OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA GARDEN GOLE Application filed September-.24, 1928. Serial 119,307,848

The present invention has reference to an improved game-apparatus (to which I haye giventhe name garden golf) of the type 1n which a row of upright pins each. independently pivoted and. adapted to be knocl ied over or displaced: by a. ball, each pin having a numerical Value of its own, confronts the players. The ball may be either rolled by. hand or propelled by a. mallet. Specifically 1 the present invention relates to apparatus of the type referred to wherein the pins are so arranged and connected in various combinationsthat the upsetting of one pin Wlll' cause one or more of the other pins to fallwith it. A leading object of the invention is the production of a game. apparatus-of the above type suchthat, while affording interest and pleasure to children, can be produced at minimum cost; and with this object in View the apparatus herein described has beenso designed that all its wooden parts- (which constitute substantiallythe entire device) can be made out of the waste material of lumber mill. Thus a substantial part of what is ordinarily consumed as valueless, or used merely as fire wood, may be turned to profitable account. The invention contemplates not only the reduction of metal parts to a minimum, but also. that such metal parts as enter into the construction ofthe device should be very simple and inexpensive,

It is not new broadly in, game apparatus of the type to whichthe present invention relates to arrange and connect the pivoted pins together in such manner that one pin in falling will carry one or more of the others with it; but the means whereby this object has been accon'ipl-ished heretofore were complicated and costly to a degree such as to make it impossible thereby to: accomplish the purposes of the present; invention in respect to simplicity and economy.-

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification, Fig; l is a front elevation of an apparatus constructed according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a topplan vieW't-hereof'; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section partly in side elevation.

The drawings illustrate one of various carry the upper part thereof beyond a line specific forms in which the invention. may be embodied. As there, shown the frame of the apparatus consists. of two side pieces'5, of approximately triangular shape. which. may be cut from waste pieces. of one inch board, 55,. and may be about 4 inches high. and. about 5 to 6 inches wide at the widest part; said side pieces being fastened rigidly together by means of a wooden cross piece 6 at the top, and a similar crosspiece 7 at the rear. These parts comprise the entire framework of the apparatus. It requires no-base board, but can be placed, when in. use, upon. an ordinary table, or upon a floor, or other. substantially level surface. i

The pins a, a etc, are preferably of rectangular cross section, as shown, that being the most economical shape as well as; the shape. best. adapted to the purposes; in view. These pins maybeapproximately i k-inches,- long and one inch wide, andmay be cutfrom' I waste inch board. Thus it will} be seen that the wooden parts of the apparatus, which constitute almost the whole thereof, are very simple and can be produced at a trifling cost.

Pins (4,0 etc, are arranged in a row, be-

- ing pivoted independently upon rod 8-, which extends from one side piece 5 to the other. The pivoting of the pins is best effected by drillingahole properly located through each pin; for thepassage of the rodlf8. It is desirablethat the, pins be-spaced asuitable distance apart, and this is effected by means of washers 9, of wood or metal. The location of the rod 8' and oli the holes in the several pinsthrough which it passes is such that the axis of the pivot of each pin is somewhat below the center of gravity thereof, and the hole, moreover, is slightly to one side the Center'line of the pin from. end to end ('se Fig. 3}) the object being that whenever the ball strikes a pin with sufficient force to passing vertically: through. the axis of rotation the pin will always fall. The several pins when in their normal position lean slightly backward: (awa from the player)v the inclination being sufiiciently great to" prevent a'- pinsbeing thrown down unless is claimed is:

struck with a certain minimum amount of force. Then in their normal positions the pins all lean against top piece 6.

In the apparatus illustrated in the drawings there are eleven pins in all; but obviously the number may be greater or less. The center pin a is preferably painted a different color from that of the other pins, or otherwise given a distinctive appearance, that pin being the bulls-eye of the target, so to speak, which it is the effort of the player to strike. The pins to left of center pin a are designated a a, a a a", and those to the right thereof are designated a a, a, a a.

For the purpose of giving a variety of results and thus increasing the interest of the players, tripping means are provided whereby certain of the pins when toppled over by the impact of the ball will cause one or several of the other pins to fall over therewith. Said tripping means are of a very simple and inexpensive kind, consisting merely of an elbowed metal wire 10, such as the commercial L-nail. In use the nail 10 is driven into the rear face of one of the pins above the axis of rotation thereof and is turned into a substantially horizontal position, so that its outer end extends across the path of the adjacent pin, in which case obviously when the former is overturned it will carry the latter with it.-

According to the scheme illustrated in the drawings, if either of the end pins a or a is struck it will fall alone. If a or a is struck it will carry with it the adjacent end pin a or a; and so on up to the center pin a. This pin has two tripping devices, one projecting to the right and the other to the left, as shown in Fig. 2. Hence, if the center pin be struck it will carry all the others with it.

The construction obviously admits of the formation of various combinations by the players themselves. For, by giving any of the L-nails a turn of approximately degrees, it will be rendered inoperative as a tripping device.

In the use of this apparatus it is contemplated that the game will be played by very small children by merely rolling a ball, ap-- proximately the size of a golf ball, from a line at a suitable distance in front of the pins. For older children it is purposed to furnish a wooden mallet or putter by which the ball is to be propelled,- thus making the game somewhat more difficult.

The rule of the game when played by small children may be that the player who knocks down the greatest number of pins in an agreed number of shots is the winner. Or if played by larger children, as garden golf, the rule may be that the one who makes the required number (say 50 or in the fewest strokes is the winner.

Having now descrlbed my lnvention, what 1. A game apparatus comprising a frame composed of wooden side pieces fastened together by wooden cross strips, in combination with a row of wooden pins independently pivoted between said side pieces, means for holding said pins normally in an approximately upright position but free to fall over when struck below the axis of rotation, and tripping means comprising an elbowed metal piece attached to one of said pins and projecting into the path of rotation of an adjacent pm.

2. "A game apparatus comprising a frame composed of wooden side pieces fastened together by wooden cross strips, in combination with a row of wooden pins independently pivoted between said side pieces, means for holding said pins normally in an approximately upright position but free to fall over when struck below the axis of rotation, and tripping means comprising an elbowed metal piece attached to one of said pins and projecting into the path of rotation of an adjacent pin, said tripping means being adjustable into and out of operative position.

3. A game apparatus comprising a wooden frame, a row of wooden pins each pivoted independently of the others, the axis of each pivot being below the center of gravity of the pin, means for holding said pins in a position slightly inclined from the vertical but free to fall over when struck below the pivot, and tripping means comprising an L-nail attached to one of said pins and projecting into the path of rotation of an adjacent pin so as to cause the latter to fall When the former is overthrown.

4-. A game apparatus comprising a wooden frame, a row of wooden pins each pivoted independently of the others, the axis of each pivot being below the center of gravity of the pin and slightly to one side the central line of the pin from end to end, means for holding said pins in a position slightly inclined from the vertical but free to fall over when struck below the pivot, and tripping means comprising an L-nail attached to one of said pins and projecting into the path of rotation of anadjacent pin so as to cause the latter to fall when the former is overthrown. V

5. A game apparatus comprising a wooden frame, a row of pins independently pivoted, means for supporting said pins in an approximately vertical position While leaving them free to fall over when struck from the front below the pivot, and tripping means comprising a piece attached to one pin and projecting into the path of an adjacent pin, one of said pins-being provided with two trippers, one on each side so that when overturned it will carry with it a group of pins on each side thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

ALFRED M. GOODLOE. 

